Our Space

The Our Space project uses the process of a Community of Practice, originally defined by Etienne Wenger. It centres its concept that the principle knowledge rests in the community, an expertise fashioned over decades or generations. While academics pursues a process of inquiry, the community is engaged as 'researchers'. The end product becomes a solution for all; the community gain academic rigour and the university can present theories already applied in practice.

The membership of this Community of Practice is open to all who believe they have a stake in the group. It specifically focusses on the Deaf community, third sector organisations and academics.

The meetings have two rules:

1. It is a place to learn something new.

2. A space for the community to share their passions with their peers.

This approach gives precedence to the community and their contribution(s) while also ensuring that different voices, or signs, are received, accepted and developed. It will be up to the group to proceed further if they wish to. University of Sussex ensures that its resources remain available to the group to take it as far as they wish to.

As a point of comparison, the 19th century saw the rise of Parisian Banquets where ex-students from the del Epee school (a school for the deaf that opened in 1760) met to debate on current affairs that concerned them. The debates were in sign language and its aims (ambitions?) were known throughout the world. A place for dialogue, on the community's terms, is central to the Our Space model.

Below, you will see summaries collected from each session, from April 2009 to present day.